Monday, December 19, 2016

2016 - In Review

It was a different sort of year.

Short but Sweet

For various reasons, I didn't have the opportunity to take as many trips in 2016 as I did in the past few years. I don't regret my choices in the slightest (overall 2016 was a terrific year, and not just from an outdoor perspective), but because I took fewer trips, I had to make them count.

Routes versus Trails

Over the past few years, I've gravitated toward a different sort of hiking. Rather than following defined trails, this choose-your-own-adventure style of hiking uses trails, canyon bottoms, dirt roads, friendly ridges, and cross-country travel to get from Point A to Point B.

2016 was the banner year for this kind of travel. Of the 11 overnight backpacking trips I did this year, only two of them followed trails the whole time. Another two followed well-defined canyons and common travel routes. The remainder, the majority, involved cross-country travel, route-finding, and general exploring. This sense of exploration, the next step in my development as a hiker, has been extremely rewarding.

Not just Backpacking...

Lest you think I'm a one-trick-pony (ok fine, I'm totally a one-trick-pony), I had a very enjoyable year's worth of non-backpacking activity as well. Whether it was finally knocking the Triple Traverse day hike off my list, taking a backcountry avalanche class, car camping in the desert with some friends, I had a great time.

The Measurables

Gear:

Hiking shoes destroyed: 3 pair

Shoelaces snapped in the backcountry: 6

Trekking poles retired: 1 pair (finally - bought them prior to the AT in 2013)

Dorky floppy hats worn: 1

Fishing rods acquired: 1

Fish caught: 2

Trips:

Overnight trips: 11

Sleeping bag nights: 34

Nights spent under the stars: 14

Day hikes: I have no idea

Wasatch peaks (10,000+) summited: 12

States visited: 3

National Parks visited: 2

Solo trips:7

Trips with friends: 4

Permits required: 2

Permits acquired: 1

Highest/Lowest/Fastest/Slowest:

Highest point: Granite Peak, 12,799 feet

Lowest point: Escalante River, 3800 feet

Highest point (metaphorical): Cirque of the Towers, covered in early-season snowfall

Lowest point (metaphorical): slipping and sliding through treacherous, sticky mud in Zion National Park

Most days spent without seeing a human: 5

Longest waterless stretch: 20 miles

Heaviest packweight: 34 pounds (Hayduke Trail)

Lightest packweight:7 pounds (Death Hollow)

Longest Day: 21 miles, Leidy Peak Loop

Shortest Day: 5.5 Miles, Beartooth Fun Route

Number of times...

In zero-visibility situations above treeline: 2

Hailed on: 3

Snowed on: 1

Spat on: 1 (by a llama)

Above 12,000 feet: 4

Hitchhiking: 6

Picking up hitchhikers: 4

Disturbed by goats: 2

Disturbed by humans: 1

Enough of the bloviation. Photo time!

In January, I enjoyed a subtle but beautiful hike in Zion, and some treacherous and not-so-subtle mud.

In May, I visited Death Hollow, an instant favorite in the Escalante area.

In June, I completed a loop over Delano Peak in the Tushars of central Utah.